Combined cigarette and match box



E. S. ROSENBLATT.

COMBINED CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, 1913.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

EDGAR S. ROSENBLATT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed December 6, 1913. Serial N 0. 865,025.

and match box, and the object of the invention is a container of the character specified adapted to jointly incase cigarettes, or similar articles, in a simple, compact and economical manner.

The inconvenience of carrying separate containers for matches and cigarettes has long been recognized, and numerous attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages, but, so far as I am aware,

no receptacle has been produced which possesses sufficient merit to be commercially adopted.

The present invention embodies a cigarette box having substantially the customary form of construction, its cover being adapted to receive a package of book matches which are, preferably, detachably secured therein and in a specially arranged manner, whereby the matches may be readily de- 80 tached and used more expeditiously and efficiently than in constructions of the prior art.

Another feature of the invention consists in a cigarette retaining means positioned within the cover, the principal function of which is to operate in conjunction with the match retaining means to hold the cigarettes against displacement, which, because of the extra depth of the cover, would occur, were 40 it not for the employment of this means.

In the preferred form of the invention, this cigarette retaining means is,also, adapted to serve as a match retaining means, so that a package of book matches may be held 4 at either end of thecover, thereby rendering it equally accessible to either a right-hand or left-hand user.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, as well as the advantages thereof,

will appear from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated different practical embodiments of the present invention, but the constructions shown therein are to be understood illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a box embodying the present invention, the same being shown partly open, and the book of matches in operative position in the cover thereof. Fig. 2 is a section taken through the cover of the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the matches being omitted. The plane of the section is parallel to the pivoted side of the cover. Fig. 3 is an underneath plan of a box cover embodying another form of the invention, and Fig. a is a section taken through a boxembodying the structural features illustrated in Fig. 3. This section is also taken in a plane parallel to the pivoted side of the cover, namely, on the line 41 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a box or receptacle of the type now in general use in the retailing of cigarettes. This box is provided with a cover B, hinged along one of its longitudinal sides to a like side of the box A. The box or receptacle A is adapted to contain cigarettes neatly packed, so that the top of the top layer will be about even with the top edge .of the box, and the cover B is adapted to be folded down over the receptacle A to close the same.

By the present invention, a package of book matches is adapted to be passed within the cover of the box and held in place, either fixedly or removably, in such position as to be readily and conveniently accessible when the cover B is thrown open.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the package of matches is detachably held in place by means of triangularly shaped engaging members 0, C, which are preferably glued into the cover so as to extend across the corners thereof, and at such relative distance from the top of said cover as to allow of the binding of the book of matches being inserted with its ends in frictional engagement between the top of the box and the under side of the engaging members 0, C. In this form of the invention, the striking surface cl, commonly provided on book matches, is left free and accessible for striking the matches thereon.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, the principle embodied in the construction described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 is carried out. In this latter depth of the receptacle necessary to provide space for the insertion of the book of matches. y

7 While it is not considered absolutely es sential, to my invention, I prefer to provide match retaining means at either end of the cover B, whereby a book of matches maybe inserted into said cover in two positions, the one wherein the matches face to the left being that preferable for cases wherein the user is right-handed, andthe other position being preferable when the user is lefthanded. Thus, the chief aim of theinvention, to provide, above all things, maximum convenience, is carried out in this particular. It will be noted that the provision of the retaining devices at either end of the cover makes it possible to utilize them for other novel functions. As hereinbefore stated, this particular thought is'carried out in the modification illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4c, wherein the match engaging means G extends across the ends of the cover but is cut away, as at 0', to allow of ready access to the striking surface on the book of matches.

The particular advantage of this construction will be apparent from Fig. 4, it being clear that, when the cover is closed down, the lower face of the match engaging means G will form a flange across the ends of the box, and thereby preclude the cigarettes from becoming displaced in transit.

' In handling the invention commercially, it is desirable, in some cases, to pack the matches at the same time as the cigarettes and seal the box, so that, when it is opened, the matches and cigarettes are in a convenient and readily accessible position; in other cases, however,manufacturers desire to dis pense with the trouble of packing the matches and simply pack the boxes with cigarettes and provide, in the cover of said boxes, means for holding a package of book matches such as is presented to a customer upon the purchasing of cigarettes, cigars, and the like.

In view of these'differences of desirabilities,

I have considered it desirable toillus'trate boxes adaptable for each, or both, methods of dispensation. I f

A salient feature of the invention resides inthe positioning of book matches Within the cover of a cigarette box of the kind now in general use in such position that the matches thereof will extendlongitudinally of the box and the s'triking csurface transversely thereof. Moreover, it is particularly desirable'to have this striking surface quite nearthe end of the box, so that, when said box is being held in the open position generally adopted by smokers in removing cigarettes from a box, this position is such as to present the striking surface for the matches in a most convenient and accessible position. It will thus be seen that, when the box is opened and a cigarette removed there- 'from, it is not necessary to twist the wrist around in order to place the match striking surface in a convenient position, but the free and easy position in which the box is normally held inthe hand is that position is usual with the cigarette boxes now in use, ,7

although this is not absolutely essential as the depth of the box or cover need not be made greater than usual. In any case,the increased depth of the'box is so trifling in its extent as to be unnoticeable, except on V.

careful examination.

Having'thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1'. As a new article of manufacture, acombin'e'd cigarette and match box embodying a cigarette receptacle, a cover pivoted at one side thereof, and retaining means extending acrossone end of the interior'of the cover and secured to the opposite sides of said 7 cover and to'the end of the coveradj'acent which'said means is positioned to provide rigld match-engaging means, whereby, when a package of book matches 1s positloned within the cover and in engagement with said retaining means, the matches will extend parallel to the pivoted side of the cover and the striking surface of the match pacl'rage'v'vill extend at right angles thereto,

said retaining means beingcut away for a a portion of its extent to expose the striking surface of the package.

' 2. As anew article of manufacture, a com bined cigarette and match box embodying a cigarette receptacle, a cover pivoted along one edge thereof, retaining means positioned interiorly of the cover and at the ends'thereof adjacent the pivoted side, whereby'the retaining means at either end of the. cover may maintain a package of book matches rigidly in position interiorly of thecover,

with the matches extending parallel to the pivoted edge and the striking surface at r ght angles thereto, each of said retaining means being'cut away for a portion of its extent to expose thestriking' surfacefof the package, and said retaining means being name to this specification in the presence of conjointb;1 operalplle to engage wit};1 the optwo subscribing witnesses. )osite en s of t e ci arettes in t e recep- 4 tacle, when the cover is in closed position, EDGAR ROSENBLATT' 5 for the purpose of precluding displacement Witnesses:

of the cigarettes. CORNELIUS ZABRISKIE,

In testimony whereof I have signed my F. S. FITZSIMONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

